The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-13
AMONG THE ARMENIANS.
CUSTOMS AND HABITS OF THE
DESCEND ANTS OF HAIG.

Describes the Beauty of His Native
Land-The Antiquity of His People
Where Noah's Ark Landed-The
Growth of Professionalism in Armenia
The Armenians' Firmness in Their
Faith.
At the First Presbyterian church large
congregation assembled last night to hear
lecture from Mr.. Gabrielian upon Armenia
Mr.. Gabrielian is native of Sivas, Ar
menia, but is now at Princeton College,
N. j., taking a theological course.
When he has graduated there he will re-
turn to Armenia TO take up ministerial
duties He; began his lecture by
stating that Armenia lies between the
Caspian and Black seas, and is a most beau
tiful country. Mountains and plateaus and
hills. innunerable streams and multitude of
lakes break its surface and make its scenery
such that it is unsurpassed in beauty and
grandeur. InIthe centre is circle of noun
tains. and within their bosom nestles a lake
whose waters are crystal in their clearness.
So grandly beautiful is the spot that he did
not wonder many of the searchers after the
lost past have located the Garden of Eden
there.
MOUNT ARAFAT
1t was on Mount Ararat that the Ark
rested, but Mount Ararat is 1900 feet
above the level of the sea, and it is argued
by some who do not believe the Bible that
no one could live in such place, the story
of the food or at least the salvation of the
inhabitants of the Ark, is untrue. But it is
incorrect to speak of Mount Ararat. The
mountains of Ararat exist in Armenia,
and it was upon some of these that the Ark
landed
Like all Oriental people, the Armenians
trace their descent from a character men
toned in the Bible. They believe that their
common ancestor was Togarnah men
toned in Genesis KS, and through his son
Haig, and they speak of their country as
Haig and themselves as Haigans. The
world calls them Armenians, because at one
time valiant warrior named Armen, arose
among them and won many battles for
them.
In character they are sober, honest and
Industrious, and what in this country is
called enterprising; so much so, in fact, that
they have been denominated the Anglo-Sax-
ons Of the East. There are many of them
in Constantinople and there they occupy
honorable positions as lawyers, doctors,
bankers and merchants. Many Of them,
too, are artisans
THE ANCIENT PEOPLE.
They have been a nation with their own
language and customs since 1900 years be-
fore Christ and to many old customs they
cling until this day. Their houses are built
of stone or sun-dried brick, such as were
used by the Egyptians, and the roofs are
of poles laid across one another and
covered with dirt, so the grass
grew upon them, and it was of
these that the disciples wrote when
they referred to the grass growing upon the
house-tops They have not vet taken up
the use of knives and forks, but dip into
dishes of food with their hands or fingers
Their dress is still the loose garment held
with a broad girdle and belt, and in the
girdle they carry such things as they
wish to have around their persons.
As to marriages, they are in advance of
the Turks. They still keep their men and
women separate, and young man and
woman know nothing of each other until they
are brought together and married Then
they sect and speak for the first time. The
Armenian women enjoy nearly all the rights
and all the freedom of men.
A CORRESPONDENCE WITH CHRIST.
The Arnenians, Mr. Gabrieian said, have
been Christians from the time of Christ. If
the church historian, Josephus, was correct,
an Armenian Prince wrote to Christ and
asked Him to visit Armenia to cure him of
sickness and teach His religion. The Savior
answered that he could not go,
but that He would send His two
disciples, who would make him
well and teach His doctrines. Matthew and
Bartholomew visited the country and cured
the Prince. and the cure converted him and
all his subjects Prior to that the Armen-
ians had been idolaters Seventeen CEN
turtles before Christ the worship of the stars
and planets had been introduced, then in the
eighth century, B. c., magic was brought
into the country Later on the Greeks taught
them polytheisrn, so that by the time
Christ came they had mixed form of idol
airy. After their adoption of Christianity
they had many things 10 bear for their re-
hgions sake. The Persians tried to make
them fire worshippers, but, though the Ar
menians were not a warlike people and
never waged war for conquest, they
fought nobly for their belief, and
maintained it, though they lost
many thousands of lives When Moham-
med established his doctrine and fred his
followers with enthusiasm, the Arabs, a
hot-blooded people, tried TO force it on the
Arminians; but the faith Of Christ was a
faith of gentleness and chastity, and the re-
hgion of Mohammed was one of sensuality
and tyranny, and again the Armenians
maintained their creed with frightful loss
At the close of the fourth century the
Armenians cut loose from the Greek and
the Roman churches and they were perse-
cuted to return, but they remained to them
selves and were much to-day in their belief
as they were then.
A NEW ERA.
In 1911 the American Board of Missions
was established, and they sent two mission
aries to Palestine to preach the Gospel in
the Holy Land. 1t is the custom
for such Arnenians as can to go to Jerusa-
lem once year to visit the birthplace of
the Savior, and while there some of them
met these missionaries and invited them to
go to Armenia to preach. The mission
aries, finding them Christian men, and liking
them, consented, and then professionalism was
introduced into what Mr. Gabrielian
calls the Bible Land, or Armenia
One ct the converts went to
Constantinople, and with his Bible. entered
coffee house and began TO preach The
men stopped him and he was so sorey
grieved that he began to cry. One Of them
asked him why he was crying, and he re-
piled that it was because they would not let
him read the Bible to them and preach to
them. The man then said 10 him that if he
would go to his house they would listen 10
him, so this native missionary took up his
residence there. and in three weeks had con-
verted twenty-five families.
JEsUITICAL PERSECUTION.
These converts were at first much parse-
cuted 10y the Jesuits. They were cut off from
ft s.,,l hi. l.